Italian band STRIKE was formed back in 1980, and with the release of their self-titled debut album in 1981 they were one of the pioneering heavy metal bands in Italy, with some sources stating that this was the first ever official heavy metal album released in Italy. This production had been out of print for a long time, and actually unavailable on CD, when Italian label Jolly Roger Records decided to reissue this production in 1981. This new edition was renamed “Back in Flames”, and came with four bonus tracks.
The main selling point for this production is the original album. Only released as a vinyl album more than 30 years earlier, finding good copies of this production must have been steadily more difficult. Although this reissue appears to have been lifted from a vinyl LP prior to remastering, either that or master tapes with some quality issues, this is an album that easily warranted to be released anew. Not merely due to historical reasons, but also because the material is surprisingly strong, especially considering that this is a production from the very start of the transition from hard rock to heavy metal.
Strike isn’t a band that will provide you with any musical surprises though, this is a metal band from the early 80’s and they weren’t among those who expanded the boundaries of the style in any way or form. But they were at times strikingly good in what they were doing, and a few exceptions aside this is material of a good international quality for this time period.
Steady drum patterns, a pounding bass and firm, well developed and at times intense guitar riffs are combined in quite a wide variety of sounds here, from opening number Short Cut to Hell’s intense expression of a kind that reminds quite a lot about what US band Riot crafted at the same time through more boogie-oriented affairs that wouldn’t have been out of place on an AC/DC album and a wide array of songs where the direct and indirect influence of Judas Priest is an easily recognizable presence. Some of the cuts do have more of a nondescript expression, exploring a sound so common that a number of bands could be attributed as similar or possibly influential, but even in this territory Strike was able to create some fine, effective and generally appealing songs. Just about the only true moment of the mediocre, if you disregard the rather cliched lyrics so typical of metal bands from this era, is found on concluding track We’ve Got the Music. I suspect that this song may have been a live favorite at the time, the pounding bass motif, slow pace and singalong chorus are all of a kind that invites to emotional audience feedback and interaction, but for an album track this one is too slow, too cliche and too dated with it’s blues-oriented style to make much of an impact here. Not a bad song as such, but one of those songs that in most cases will feel out of place when not explored on stage and in front of an audience.
The bonus tracks, apart from showcasing that the band had become rather aware of Iron Maiden at some point, aren’t all that interesting. Much due to the sound quality: These are demo recordings and it’s not difficult at all to hear that this is a fact. A nice addition for old fans though, as I suspect those demo recordings are just about impossible to get hold if these days, at least in a decent state. Anyone who have tried listening to a cassette tape of less than major studio quality made in 1981 will know exactly what I mean by that statement.
If you generally enjoy metal bands from the early 1980’s of the kind that explored a sound similar to what British bands made famous in the NWoBHM movement, this album by Strike is one that needs to be given a spin. A surprisingly strong album, considering when it was made, and a production that have aged much more gracefully than many other metal albums released way back in 1981.
My rating: 76/100
